614 



MAN AS A CONQUEROR 



which could be acquired through the ingestion of raw meats was much 

 reduced. However, there are still epidemics of various parasitic 

 diseases due to worms, although they usually occur in widely scattered 

 localities. 



Parasites Acquired through Improperly Prepared Foods 



Fortunately there are only a few tapeworms which may affect the 

 health of human beings. Meats that pass from one state to an- 

 other are inspected by the Federal government for the presence of 

 larval stages of such parasites. Not all beef and pork, however, is 

 examined for the encysted larval stage of the beef and pork tape- 

 worms (T. saginata and T. solium). This means that meat obtained 

 through local abattoirs would not be inspected by a Federal repre- 

 sentative and so might be infected. The descriptions of the life 



Regions in North America where fish infected with the larval stages of the broad 

 tapeworm of man have been taken. (After Ward.) 



histories of these worms, as well as that of the broad tapeworm of 

 man {Diphyllohothrium latum), are found on pages 226-230. 



A study of the distribution of the broad tapeworm in the United 

 States suggests that it was introduced from the continent by various 

 immigrants who were infected when admitted to this country. A 

 very high percentage of the population living near the shores of the 

 Baltic Sea, like the Finns, are infected with this tapeworm. One of 



